Tuesday's NHL Playoff Capsules

Tuesday's NHL Playoff Capsules

April 18th, 2012 in News

DETROIT (AP) - Kevin Klein scored a go-ahead goal 6:25 into the third period and Pekka Rinne made 40 saves, lifting the Nashville Predators to a 3-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night and a 3-1 lead in the first-round Western Conference playoff series.

The Predators can eliminate Detroit in Game 5 on Friday night in Nashville.

Predators rookie Gabriel Bourque broke a scoreless tie 1:55 into the third period. Detroit's Niklas Kronwall tied it 1:19 later with a power-play goal that was waved off on the ice but reversed by video review.

The Red Wings pulled goalie Jimmy Howard to add an extra skater with 1:31 left, but had to put him back in the net because Henrik Zetterberg was called for high-sticking with 55.8 seconds left. David Legwand's power-play goal sealed the win with 39 seconds left.

Rinne stopped the first 29 shots he faced. Howard made 14 saves.

PANTHERS 4, DEVILS 3

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Brian Campbell scored on a second-period power play and Florida staged its greatest playoff comeback, rallying from an early three-goal deficit to beat New Jersey.

Sean Bergenheim, Jason Garrison and Mike Weaver also scored and Scott Clemmensen made 19 saves after replacing Jose Theodore early in giving the Panthers a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series.

Game 4 will be played in New Jersey on Thursday.

Florida scored on all three of its power plays against the NHL's top-ranked penalty-killing unit, and is now 6 of 10 in the series with the man advantage.

Zach Parise, Stephen Gionta and Patrik Elias scored for the Devils, who jumped out 3-0 in the opening 6:16.

The Panthers ended a 15-year playoff drought in winning Game 2 on Sunday and then drove Martin Brodeur from the net after tying the game early in the second.

Campbell got the game winner on the Panthers' third and final power play, scoring against backup goalie Johan Hedberg.

COYOTES 3, BLACKHAWKS 2, OT

CHICAGO (AP) - Mikkel Boedker scored 13:15 into overtime, and Phoenix beat Chicago to take a 2-1 lead in the wild and physical opening-round Western Conference playoff series.

Game 4 is Thursday night at the United Center.

Boedker scored from the left side of the net, beating goalie Corey Crawford as the teams played their third straight overtime game.

Chicago played most of the night without regular-season points leader Marian Hossa, who was taken off the ice on a stretcher in the first period after a hit by Raffi Torres. Hossa was briefly hospitalized before being released.

He is expected to make a full recovery, but there is no timetable for his return to the ice, the Blackhawks said.

Andrew Brunette and Michael Frolik had goals for Chicago. Rostislav Klesla and Ray Whitney scored for the Coyotes in regulation.

Mike Smith shook off a big hit he absorbed in Game 2 and made 35 saves - six in overtime - to earn the win.